Today was a great day... the plan was to go to Atlanta, visit NorthPoint Community Church (Andy Stanley's church), grab lunch and check out the 'new' World of Coca-Cola..... I just didn't anticipate what God had in store for me too.
Ever have those times where you hear God just telling you to be still? To pay attention to what is about to happen? I almost didn't notice.... You see I tend to be loud and always talking and moving and definitely not ever paying attention. But today, well today, wasn't very different, except for when I heard... and today, I paid attention.
As I stepped out of the CNN Center after lunch I saw a man approaching my friends (as always, I was at least 10-12 feet behind). He wasn't very tall and his clothes were very dark--black. He had a cigarette in his fingers that he kept fiddling with in nervousness. Then I saw his eyes and when I did God spoke to my heart.... Stop, Jenni. Listen and have mercy and compassion. You see when I looked into his eyes I saw brokenness... I saw pain... and I saw a man who needed to feel the love of Jesus Christ. So I listened.
His name is Mike B. I'm guessing he is around 35-40 years old. And he just got out of jail where he spent 18 months for crimes he did commit. He shared with us that he wasn't starving; but he really wanted to wash his clothes and take a shower. "It only takes a couple of dollars to do that, but if you don't want to, I won't hold it against you." You could see the agony in asking for something so simple. I know most people would say that he was probably 'playing' me for sympathy and some money, but growing up, I spent time with my dad and uncle on the streets of Columbia and Atlanta working with the homeless; I know the difference..... Mike was broken and completely humiliated.... And completely honest about where he came from.
I wish I had more to give him.... I wish that I had a great solution for him to 'get back on his feet'. I wish I could have looked at him and said, Jesus loves you and because of that everything is all fixed. But instead all I had to offer was a couple of dollars and an offer to pray for him right there.... So in front of the CNN building I prayed for Mike. I prayed that God would open doors for him; that he would experience the love of God in a radical way; that he would experience the same grace and mercy that Christ has bestowed upon me. Afterwards, I told him of a ministry I knew of in Atlanta, gave a couple of bucks and walked away. When I looked back he was gone.
So how did God rock my face off? He reminded me of His compassion for us.... He listens willingly everyday and aches for us when we are in pain. He reminded me that He has a purpose for me....and it's not within 4 walls. He reminded me of my own brokenness and humility... how we are to approach Him and that it doesn't matter where we come from. I pray that someone steps into Mike's life and reaches out to him in a way I could not.... He will most likely forget what transpired today.... I won't.... I can't.... the ache deep in my heart, well, it's reminding me of why I'm here. I'm going to start listening more.....